Shopping Spree
Dramatic growth in Northeast Florida has meant an influx of homebuyers from all over the nation and the world. Local merchants have responded to this increasing diversity by offering an unprecedented variety of furnishings and accessories.
Where can you buy the coolest stuff? Well, that depends entirely upon your personal preferences. But whether you've relocated here from New York or New Delhi, and whether your tastes tend toward finicky or funky, you can find what you're looking for nearby.
Here, then, are our picks for the 10 best places to buy furniture and 10 best places to buy home accessories-in every style and price range.
FUNITURE
Mrs. Howard: Entering this Avondale emporium feels a bit like wandering into the home of a well-to-do aunt. From the moment you step inside, you're struck by not only the formal ambiance but also by the exquisite furnishings and eye-popping antiques around every corner.
To offset the more formal feel of the store, the original "Mrs. Howard," whose name is Phoebe, and her husband, Jim, opened an adjoining store, Max & Company, five years ago to offer more casual options to a younger clientele.
Mrs. Howard is also a full design studio whose local success has allowed it to expand into both Palm Beach and Atlanta. In Northeast Florida, there's a second location in Jacksonville Beach. (904) 387-1202 (Jacksonville); (904) 241-1980 (Jacksonville Beach)
Liberty Furniture: Liberty Furniture is a family business steeped in Jacksonville history. Herman Weiss founded the company in 1924, and by the 1950s it had grown into one of the region's leading furniture stores. As the business flourished, a partnership was formed between Herman's son, Paul, and his sister and brother-in-law, Beatrice and Marvin Sherman.
Paul Weiss was killed in a fire that destroyed the store in 1973. But Beatrice and Marvin pressed on, opening a new store on San Jose Boulevard. In 1987 a University Boulevard location was opened, and Liberty continued its reign as a cherished Jacksonville institution.
Today the showroom is filled with traditional and contemporary pieces from Drexel Heritage, Lane, Henredon, Royal Calais, European Revival and Couture Collection. And the store features the largest Thomasville gallery in the region.
Especially noteworthy is Liberty's huge assortment of entertainment centers, leather chairs, top-quality mattresses and the wide variety of accessories. (904) 737-3700
Ethan Allen: Ethan Allen's offerings include a wide variety of formal and casual contemporary lines along with the American country look that was once its primary stock-in-trade. Founded in 1932, the chain pioneered the gallery-store concept with spacious, inviting showrooms that make shopping easy.
Ethan Allen's kids' division offers sturdy furniture with whimsical concepts, such as bunk beds with nooks and crannies for kids to squirrel away kid stuff.
The popular store is moving to the bustling new St. Johns Town Center in July. (904) 292-1700
Norwalk the Furniture Idea: Here's a store that prides itself on offering a full-service design studio for every budget. And a designer's assistance is appreciated when you consider that everything offered through Norwalk The Furniture Idea-furniture, flooring and window treatments-is custom ordered.
Knowledgeable staffers work with each customer to assess the dozens of options available through the store's factory, based in Norwalk, Ohio.
In addition, the store offers furnishings from Sherrill, Hickory White and Hooker and has a nice assortment of rugs, greenery and lamps. (904) 880-7632
The Iron Gate: Wow! That seems to be everyone's first reaction upon encountering this sprawling, 39,000-square-foot store.
Fred Farah and son Fred Jr. have amassed an impressive collection of Asian antiques and reproductions, top-brand furniture lines such as Bernhardt and Sherrill and accessories ranging from clocks and original oil paintings to ceramics and statues.
A stunning collection of Theodore Alexander furniture made in Vietnam is a must-see.
One of the store's biggest draws, however, is the Martha Stewart Signature Gallery, which was designed by Stewart herself. Iron Gate is the only authorized dealer in North Florida.
Despite its size, the store is expanding, adding individual galleries for collections and an area for outdoor furniture. The large and knowledgeable staff can help with upholstery and custom-made furniture services, too. (904) 306-9898
Hugo's: Family-owned Hugo's, a Northeast Florida institution since 1921, is the very definition of a full-service provider of fine home furnishings.
Richard Hugo and his son, Mathew, personally serve many of the customers who arrive at their signature showroom near downtown Jacksonville.
Hugo's, which boasts a staff of design professionals, also makes its own window treatments, hand-stitches its own upholstery and provides a variety of flooring options.
Beautiful lamps, art and floral arrangements are interspersed throughout, and the traditional furniture is crafted from dark woods only. (904) 396-2233
Eclectic Furniture: Fun, funky and affordable describe this Atlanta-based contemporary furniture store, which opened in 2004 and immediately found a niche.
The streamlined, offbeat designs and the retro colors-lime greens, oranges and bright golds-attract a younger clientele, but Eclectic Furniture has lots of nostalgic baby boomer fans, too.
The styles are simple and the colors are vibrant, which makes the store's offerings especially appealing for smaller rooms. The showroom is filled with an array of metal pieces as well as unusual accessories and lighting fixtures.
Eclectic Furniture buys from 27 different manufacturers, so the possibilities are endless for designs and colors that can be custom ordered. (904) 998-9344
Pottery Barn: As you wander through Pottery Barn's store at The Avenues mall, it's clear why this popular San Francisco-based chain remains the the retailer of choice for home basics.
Furniture is stylish and well made, while an ever-changing collection of window treatments, bedding, shelves and other accessories is available in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes.
And if the store doesn't have what you want in stock, you can usually order it from Pottery Barn's catalog or Web site-both of which also feature furniture and accessories geared to young children.
The Avenues store enjoys such brisk business that the company is eyeing another location at the St. Johns Town Center. (904) 519-0953
Woodchuck's Furniture & Clock Gallery: A Mandarin mainstay for 25 years, Woodchuck's Furniture & Clock Gallery is a second-generation, family-owned operation with a reputation for quality, affordable furniture.
Owner Doug Correia turned his father's original furniture restoration business into a full-service furniture center with a wide selection from top manufacturers.
Custom orders for finishes, fabrics and dimension adjustments are available for many of the pieces featured here and at Woodchuck's Country Store, a smaller offshoot.
Woodchuck's is also one of the largest clock dealers in Northeast Florida, offering Howard Miller clocks and a full-service repair shop.
At the Mandarin store's annual three-week tent sale, Correia offers containers of furniture at wholesale cost. (904) 880-0090
Furniture Mart: This family-owned and operated store, with two Jacksonville locations, carries a large selection of classic, quality furniture at famously low North Carolina store prices.
With the 165 manufacturers represented, odds are that the right piece can be found or ordered. Brands available include Hancock & More, Lane, Lexington, Uttermost, Bassett and many more.
Check out the store's collection of grandfather clocks, home-office essentials and cribs. Furniture Mart is also loaded with accessories that that complement its comfy, Southern-style furniture. (904) 751-7555; (904) 726-0666
ACCESSORIES
The French Market: Owner Judy Nelson grew up in North Carolina, learning the furniture business from her father. She has spent more than three decades managing and operating antique stores in Atlanta and Los Angeles, including extensive buying and research trips to France and England.
Now that lifetime of experience has come to fruition with The French Market, located in downtown Fernandina Beach. This enchanting shop carries mostly fine antique furniture along with selected imported reproductions, but the whimsical accessories really shine.
Among the items you'll find are desk jars, lamps, pottery, tumblers, placemats and hand-hooked, rooster-themed rugs. Everything here would look lovely in a French country cottage-or in your home, for that matter.
The French Market even carries a carefully selected line of beauty products and bath soaps for those too-few indulgent moments. (904) 491-0707 or (800) 635-6918
Oxford House: Shane Hoddinott's Southside store boasts an eclectic mix of merchandise, including everything from European antiques and handmade pillows to hand-painted galvanized tins.
Topiaries, Turkish and Italian pottery and a huge collection of leather-bound books mingle with English antiques and reproductions. The antique cricket, polo and rowing equipment is unique and fascinating.
Oxford House also offers a variety of custom finishes on the English Pine reproductions, as well as in-house designer services. (904) 739-6071
Purple Parrot: Sandy and Phillip Mills' Purple Parrot is chock-full of exotic furnishings, name-brand furniture, unusual accent pieces, artwork and mirrors. It takes a good three trips around the store to get a sense of what's here.
You'll find brands such as Hooker Furniture, Maitland Smith and Fine Art Lamps. Window treatments, including plantation shutters by Skandia and Hunter Douglas, are carried, with installation available. (904) 270-0950
Pine Cottage: This Avondale shop has built lovely pine French reproductions since 1995, but the real finds here are accessories-Spode plates, hand-stitched pillows, lamps, framed art and a delightful collection of knickknacks. All look as if they came straight out of a home in the French countryside.
Traditional bedding by Pine Cone Hill and Jane Wilner are favorites with Pine Cottage customers, as is the handcrafted furniture, all of which is pretty, classically designed and functional.
Owners Paul and Nancy Clements take a hands-on approach to their store, joining their small sales staff in assisting customers.
Customized furniture, cabinets and upholstery items are all made locally using traditional techniques. (904) 381-9148
Cottage By the Sea: Just steps from the ocean, the Cottage by the Sea is filled with exactly what you'd expect-a charming collection of beach-themed accessories and furniture.
Owners Dale Gray and Joy Hollingsworth lovingly turned an old house into their quaint shop 10 years ago, and have offered a wide selection of home accessories for the beach lifestyle ever since.
Rooms are replete with work from local artists, including Kathy Frosio's paintings and Caroline Forbis' ceramics. Classic beach cottage items are everywhere, but the real standouts are the funky wall hangings and metal sculptures. Dinnerware and platters by Mud Pie are must-sees, too.
Cottage by the Sea also has a nice collection of rattan and distressed furniture and holds a big yard sale every eight to 10 weeks on items that have just arrived. (904) 246-8411
T. Gregory Imports: Pull up to Tod Whitten and Jerome Maloy's North Beach store and the first thing you'll see before you step inside is exotic teak outdoor furniture.
Once inside, after being greeted by Boone and Lucy, the owners' dogs, you'll get the full effect of Whitten and Maloy's fascination with all things Asian. Exotic furniture, unusual figurines, colorful wall hangings and beautiful room dividers are just a few of the items offered.
The showroom is packed floor to ceiling, so shopping becomes a bit of a treasure hunt. But there are treasures to be found, including dramatic Chinese cabinets and dressers and a wonderful selection of oil paintings.
Vivian Morgan candles and a diverse selection of seashells are also big sellers. Custom-ordered silk floral arrangements and wreaths are available, and the affordable prices and wide selection of interesting knickknacks make this a popular place with decorators. (904) 247-4555 or (904) 810-0785.
Front & Centre: With locations in Fernandina Beach and Ponte Vedra Beach, Front & Centre offers a classic collection of home furnishing staples, some of which reflect the area's maritime heritage.
In historic Fernandina Beach, you'll find traditionally styled accent furniture by Bailey Street, topped with figurines and knickknacks while decorative shelves dot the walls. Lamps, artwork, frames, pillows and most everything else for the home can also be found here, including a large collection of bird- and sea-themed accessories.
The big Ponte Vedra Beach store is equally fun and often fanciful, specializing in antiques, original artwork, lamps and gifts. Free in-store design consultations are available. (904) 277-2660 (Fernandina Beach); (904) 285-7045 (Ponte Vedra Beach)
MJ Coleman: Tucked into a brand-new shopping area in one of the fastest-growing parts of town, this airy home décor store debuted last fall. Owners Mark and Janet Coleman have filled it with striking pieces of metal furniture, artwork and sculpture, as well as beautiful Portugal pottery and one-of-a-kind accessories.
Complete custom-order services, including clients' own designs, are available for metal tables and chairs.
Indeed, viewing the metal furniture-from tables to bed frames-is the highlight of a visit to MJ Coleman.
Each piece, by Virginia-based companies such as Twist & Turn and Renaissance, is handmade, and the store works with Belamarmi to customize beautiful marble table tops. (904) 928-9299
Mineral City: Since opening Mineral City in 1997, owner Laura West Howson has filled a niche for luxurious home accessories. Her ever-changing shop is filled with an elegant mix of the finest dinnerware (Versace), home décor (Kenneth Jay Lane) and original designer jewelry (Margy Leibel).
Local artists' work is always available, including an exquisite collection of hand-painted, recycled-glass dinnerware. Howson also offers upscale table linens and handcrafted placemats and napkins.
Bridal and gift registry are available, as are unique hostess gifts and select pieces of accent furniture. The store also provides party-planning services. (904) 285-4784
Home Goods: This home furnishings superstore boasts a large, open showroom filled with tableware, bedding, kitchen accessories, accent furniture, lamps, pillows, linens and outdoor decorative pieces.
Home Goods is part of the TJ Maxx/Marshall's family, so low prices are the real attraction here. But don't be fooled by the mass-market approach-quality is also key.
The store makes it easy to find what you're looking for, with merchandise displayed by category. Designer and name-brand items abound, and lots of new merchandise arrives daily.
Although Home Goods is all about the basics, unique items, such as patio mosaic pedestals, also can be found. (904) 519-8363
Editor's Note: Another favorite wasn't included on the list because it's not set to reopen until September. But when the time comes, you owe it to yourself to check out Villa Vita. Owner Stephanie Edwards has filled this San Marco boutique with fine Italian handcrafted furniture and accessories. The store even carries reproductions from the Vatican Library. And antique-paneled Umbrian furniture is surrounded by the beautiful tapestries and hand-painted terra-cotta barrel tiles that adorn the walls. Call (904) 396-2800.